Orthodontist&#39;s tool to dispense and apply wire teeth separators



M. WALLSHEIN Feb. 1, 1966 ORTHODONTIST'S TOOL TO DISPENSE AND APPLY WIRETEETH SEPARATORS Filed July 5, 1962 INVENTOR,

N E H s L L A W m V L E M ATORNEY.

United States Patent a .f 3,231,976 t. ORTHODONTISTS TOOL `T0...DISPENSEAND n APPLY `WIRE TEETHSEPARATQRS n, Melvin Wallshein, 8645 Bay Parkway,Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed July 5, 1962, Sei'.` No. 207,521 3 Claims. (Cl.32-66) The present invention relates to an orthodontists tool to apply aseparator between teeth in a patients mouth.

These Iseparators are made of wire and are set to straddle the contactarea of two adjacent teeth which need some separation; Being of springymaterial, they are in stressed condition when mounted as a U-form. Thearms of the U-forrn, in working towards each other, decrease or entirelyundo thecontaot area and thus eitect separation of the teeth betweenwhich the separator creeps into. One form of teeth vseparator this tool`is suited for, is shown in my Patent No; 3,052,029 dated September 4,1962.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel andimproved orthodontists tool including an operating member which at eachstroke will dispense `a separator, hold in proper position and insert`it between the two teeth needing separation, allowing` manualmanipulation by moving said tool so that the ejected separator getsproperly placed.

Since the separator being applied, heed be expanded as it is beingmounted, it is another object of this invention to provide that theseparator shall be held by the tool during such expansion.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improvedorthodontists tool of the character described, having thementionedattributes, and which is simple in construction, reasonably cheap tomanufacture, easy to use and efficient in carry-ing out the purposes forwhich it isdesigned. p

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosureproceeds;

For one practice of this invention, the tool comprises a hand staplerminus its anvil; such being usually called a tacker. I load this with a1multiplicity of separators associated as a slug of separable staplestherein,fto be ejected one at a time through achute of specialconstruetion to straddle the contact area between teeth which needseparation and not only `holds the separator being applied so thatnitcan be manipulated into proper place by tool movement, but continues tohold the separator while it is causedto expand and is coming into itsrequired position between the teeth.

Different size separators may be dispensed by a single tool, by havingeach slug in a tubular carrier; the external dimensions of such carrierin all instances being identical and its interior being such that theslug therein is slidably fitted therein. The spring-loaded slug pushercommon in such stapling or tacker devices will then travel in saidcarrier, to advance the slug after return of the plunger to normal restposition.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specication, similarcharacters of reference indicate corI responding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view of an orthodontists tool embodying theteachings of this invention. It is here deemed held in hand and is shownready to apply a separator between two teeth in a mouth.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slug of separators which t in saidtool in like manner as a slug of staples do in a stapler or tacker.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the wire separators of the typeshown in my said patent application.

FIG. 4 is a left end view of the tool in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5-8 are fragmentary perspective views showing different forms ofchute construction for this tool at its i hits the teeth,`it is expandedand thus stressed.

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discharge region. These views are inverted with respect to FIG.` 1 andare drawn to an enlarged scale.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the tool, showing aseparator which has been severed vfrom the slug and shifted by theplunger into the discharge chute and about ready to be ejected intoposition between two teeth. In this View, only one of said teeth isshown so as not to hide the discharge end of the chute from view. Thechute is that of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is like FIG. 9, showing the separator fully ejected from thetool and in place between teeth. Such separator being expanded, istherefore in stressed con-V dition. y

FIG. 11 is a `view like FIG. 9, showing the tool manipulated so that theseparator is set in such position as the orthodontist may desire.

FIG. 12 is a perspective View of another form of teeth separator, amultiplicity of which are associated as a slug.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary face view of a plunger suitable for theseparators of the type shown in FIG. 12.

FIGS; 14 and 15 are fragmentary perspective views of separators ofdiierent sizes, each in a carrier of identical exterior dimensions.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally a preferredembodiment of the tool herein which is of a size to be` convenientlyheld in hand and which can be entered into a patients mouth as shown inFIG. l; Said tool comprisesV a tacker indicated generally by the numeral16 which holds a slug 17 of separable teeth separators 18. Upon bringingits operating member 19 ytowards its frame part 20 which contains a slugfeeding device not shown but well known, the resulting movement of itsplunger 21 will sever the end `separator 18' of the slug and eject itout of an opening 22 at the end of a chute 23 which I have provided.Various other chute forms suitable for -known tacker devices, are showndesignated generally by the numerals 24, 25, 25 respectively. Thethickness of each chute is made so, that the separator 18 being ejected,shall pass throughfrictionally engaged with the wide wallsV of thechute. The chutes side end portions are tines indicated by the numerals22', 22 offering passages to guide the separator being discharged.A Inuse, the discharge end of the chute is set as awsaddle straddling thecontact area of two adjacent teeth 26, 27 as shown in the FIGS. 9-11.The tacker, is operated and thus a separator l18' is mounted betweensaid teeth to straddle said area. When the separator 1S Initial Contact,or a bit before initial vContact of the separator withthe teeth, isshown in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 shows the separator fully ejected and mountedbetween the teeth to the extent their surface contours will permit; suchseparator being in expanded and stressed condition. Its tendency toreturn to unstressed normal condition, will cause the teeth 26, 27 tobecome separated a distance equal at most to the thickness of the wirestock of which the separator is made.

The separator 18 in passing from its position shown in FIG. 9 where itis about to be ejected by the plunger 21, to its mounted position shownin FIG. 10, needs to be allowed to expand and various contour formationsof the adjacent teeth 26, 27 require that the tool 15 be i shifted aslight turn and perhaps given an arcuate oscilproper. If desired, bothside ends of the chute may be open as in FIG. 8, or the chute may haveits side ends diverge towards its opening 30 as in FIG. 6, in whichlatter structure, both side end walls 31, 32 can be used for pushing theseparator 18 to help it set into proper position between the teeth.

The particular separator construction 18 is given as a mere example andother forms may be associated as a slug of staples to be ejected bytackers adapted to work with them, such tackers being provided with any.of the chute forms'shown or suitable for equivalent function. Forinstance a teeth separator may be of the V-form made of rippled springlywire as at 33 (ripplingv not shown), .a multiplicity of which, separablyassociated as a slug 34 may have its tackers dispenser which is suitablefor them, to serve as the tool in accordance with this invention. Thetacker in such instance may be provided with a suitable chute as taughtherein and with a plunger having a V-notch 35 as shown in FIG. 13.

In tacking devices having a spring-loaded slug pusher, wire separatorsof different sizes may be used as for instance of the slugs 36 and 37.For this,'I provide that each slug shall be housed in a tubular carrieras shown at 36 and 37 respectively, which carriers have identicalexterior dimensions, but in whose interior, the slug is slidably fitted.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applicationswithout departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It istherefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown hereinshall'be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive and that thepatent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; referencebeing had to the following claims rather than to the specilicdescription and showings herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An orthodontists tool for dispensing wire teeth separators one at atime and for applying the separator dispensed to straddle the contactarea of two adjacent teeth in a patients mouth which need to beseparated,

including a manually-operated means capable of being held in the handand inserted into themouth, for dispensing one separator at eachactuation thereof and a chute carried on said means at one end thereofand adapted to receive the separator being ejected; said chute having adischarge opening, said means including a plunger which effects movementof the separator being dispensed out of the chutes discharge opening,said chute at discharge end being formed with tines therealong to setbetween the teeth whichare to have a separator ejected between them,said tines being opposite one another in spaced and coplanar relation,each of said tines having a lengthwise slit therealong, said slits beingopposite each other in spaced coplanar relation and aligned with thechute of said dispensing means.

2. An orthodontists tool for dispensing wire teeth 4 separators one at atime and for applying the separator dispensed to straddle the contactVareavof two adjacent teeth in a patients mouth which need to beseparated, including a manually-operated means capable of being held inthe hand and inserted into the mouth, for dispensing one separator ateach actuation thereof and a chute carried on said means at one endthereof and adapted to receive the separator being ejected; said chutehaving a discharge opening, said means including a plunger which effectsmovement of the separator' being dispensed out of the chutes dischargeopening, said chute at discharge end being formed with tines therealongto set between the teeth which are to have a separator ejected betweenthem, said tines being opposite one another in spaced and coplanarrelation, each of said tines having a channel lengthwise thereof, saidchannels being opposite .one another in spaced coplanar relation, facingeach other and aligned with said chute of said dispensingy means anddiverging from said chute. l

3. An orthodontists tool for dispensing wire teeth separators one at atime and for applying the separator dispensed to straddle the contactarea of two adjacentv teeth in a patients mouth which need to Ibeseparated, in-cluding a manually-operated means capable of being held inthe hand and inserted into the mouth, for dispensing one separator ateach actuation thereof and a chute carried on said means at one endthereof and adapted to receive the separator being ejected; said chutehaving a discharge opening, said means including a plunger which effectsmovement of the separator being dispensed out of the chutes dischargeopening, said chute at discharge end being formed with tines therealongto set between the teeth which are to have a separator ejected betweenthem, said tines being opposite one another in spaced and coplanarrelation, one of said tines having a channel lengthwise thereof and theother tine having a lengthwise slit therealong; said slitand channelbeing opposite one another in spaced and coplanar relation, said channelfacing said slit, said channel and slit being aligned with said chute ofsaid dispensing means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 746,549 12/1903Modlin let al 1-418 `2,154,747 4/1939 Heyser 1 418 2,577,012 12/1951Hinckley et al. l-349 2,604,623 7/1952 Ruskin 1-412 2,618,779 12/1952Byard 1 419 3,006,344 10/1961 Vogelfan'ger 12S-346 X RICHARD A. GAUDET,Primary Examiner.

RICHARD I. HOFFMAN, ROBERT E. MORGAN,

' Examiners.

1. AN ORTHODONTIST''S TOOL FOR DISPENSING WIRE TEETH SEPARATORS ONE AT ATIME AND FOR APPLYING THE SEPARATOR DISPENSED TO STRADDLE THE CONTACTAREA OF TWO ADJACENT TEETH IN A PATIENT''S MOUTH WHICH NEED TO BESEPARATED, INCLUDING A MANUALLY-OPERATED MEANS CAPABLE OF BEING HELD INTHE HAND AND INSERTED INTO THE MOUTH, FOR DISPENSING ONE SEPARATOR ATEACH ACTUATION THEREOF AND A CHUTE CARRIED ON SAID MEANS AT ONE ENDTHEREOF AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE SEPARATOR BEING EJECTED; SAID CHUTEHAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PLUNGER WHICH EFFECTSMOVEMENT OF THE SEPARATOR BEING DISPENSED OUT OF THE CHUTE''S DISCHARGEOPENING, SAID CHUTE AT DISCHARGE END BEING FORMED WITH TINES THEREALONGTO SET BETWEEN THE TEETH WHICH ARE TO HAVE A SEPARATOR EJECTED BETWEENTHEM, SAID TINES BEING OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER IN SPACED AND COPLANARRELATION, EACH OF SAID TINES HAVING A LENGTHWISE SLIT THEREALONG, SAIDSLITS BEING OPPOSITE EACH OTHER IN SPACED COPLANAR RELATION AND ALIGNEDWITH THE CHUTE OF SAID DISPENSING MEANS.